Seat arranger

ABSTRACT

A plurality of organizing platforms are interconnectably linked together with a plurality of seats for movement relative to each other for arranging one or more seats in arbitrary patterns. The platforms are identical one with another and are detachably connected at each end to a seat. The seat preferably has a plurality of arcuatly spaced holes at the base which receive a pin projecting from the ends of a platform. In this fashion the seats and platforms are anchored to each other to prevent lateral movement therebetween although circumferential adjustment of the seat or platform relative to the seat center is provided. Each end also includes a circular facing engageable with a circular locating flange on the seats to facilitate the circumferential adjustment between the seat and platform.

United States Patent [191 Watamura et a1.

[ Nov. 27, 1973 SEAT ARRANGER [75 Inventors: Donald Watamura, West Hempstead, N.Y.; Everett L. Duester, Holland, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Herman Miller Inc., Zeeland,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 120,847

[52] US. Cl. 297/249, 297/440 [51] Int. Cl. A47c U124 [58] Field of Search 297/249, 233, 248, 297/240, 257, 135, 173, 440; 108/64, 103, 102

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 171,155 12/1875 Mills 108/103 229,704 7/1880 297/240 1,163,340 12/1915 108/64 1,212,739 l/1917 297/240 2,556,362 6/1951 108/64 X 2,576,004 11/1951 297/240 X 2,694,611 11/1954 108/67 3,002,787 10/1961 Ziegenfuss 297/249 3,466,087 9/1969 Motter 296/232 3,637,256 1/1972 Harty 297/248 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Francis Zugel Attorney-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [5 7 ABSTRACT A plurality of organizing platforms are interconnectebly linked together with a plurality of seats for movement relative to each other for arranging one or more seats in arbitrary patterns. The platforms are identical one with another and are detachably connected at each end to a seat. The seat preferably has a plurality of arcuatly spaced holes at the base which receive a pin projecting from the ends of a platform. In this fashion the seats and platforms are anchored to each other to prevent lateral movement therebetween although circumferential adjustment of the seat or platform relative to the seat center is provided. Each end also includes a circular facing engageable with a circular locating flange on the seats to facilitate the circumferential adjustment between the seat and platform.

7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENIEUum/N 191s 3.774.962 SHEEI 2 or 5 26 as 23 22/ 20M 24 24 Q3.

INVENTOR$ ATTORNEY BACKGROUND or INVENTION This invention relates to a new seat construction and to means for organizing a plurality of interconnected seats and related service units in a predetermined pattern which can be readily rearranged to provide a plurality of different configurations.

With the advent of todays rapid expansion in population, business growth, expanded transportation facilities, etc., there is an ever increasing number of large public facilities such as airports, theater lobbys, exposition halls, etc., wherein a large number of people congregate for various periods of time and it is necessary toprovide various types of flexible seating arrangements. In the past, it was satisfactory to provide a large number of seats and permanently position them in a particular hall or public meeting place. However, with todays continual change, there is an ever rising need for providing aesthetically attractive seating arrangements which can be easily and economically altered to meet existing needs. This invention provides seating which may be readily arranged in a given pattern, locked in place, yet with a minimum of labor and expense rearranged to satisfy changes in the character of the use or of the overall space arrangement in which the seating is utilized.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to this invention, a pair of seats and an organizing platform having a pair of ends are interlocked together by means comprising a firstportion on one of said seats or platform and the other portion on the other thereof. The interlock means are shaped to permit the selection of circumferential positioning of said seats relative to said platform about the center of said seats.

In the preferred embodiment, each platform includes a pin means mounted on each end and projecting outwards for interlocking engagement with one of a plurality of arcuately spaced aperatures in the bottom of the seats. The ends of the platforms are shaped to conform to the shape of the seat bottoms (preferably circular) so that the position of the seat circumferentially with respect to the platform is arbitrary while the interlock between the pin and aperture prevents unintentional lateral displacement. 1

An alternative embodiment includes a tongue and groove nesting between a portion of the seat bottom and said platform ends. Preferably, the tongue and groove means are circular to permit circumferential adjustment. Interlocking pin means are also provided to prevent unintentional lateral movement after positional selection is made. Where a plurality of seats and platforms are arranged in tandem, except for the two end seats on the arrangement, each seat engages the adjacent ends of two platforms thereby interconnecting them. This not only positively positions the individual seat relative to either platform, it also positively positions the configuration of the two adjacent platforms. Thus, when a particular arrangement is selected, and

the platforms and seats are interconnected to each other, the entire arrangement is rigid, preventing accidental or unintentional alteration. On the other hand, the entire arrangement can be quickly and efficiently altered by simply lifting the seat out of engagement with the platforms and rearranging them into the newly selected configuration. The number of chairs and platforms selected, and their arrangement is unlimited except as relates to the particular physical configuration of the area in which they are arranged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat assembled to two interconnected platforms in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of two platforms interconnected according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the preferred configuration for interconnecting two adjacent platforms;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a seat constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the base portion of the seat shown in FIG. 4 taken along line V-V;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a seat and luggage rack cooperatively assembled according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a seat similar to that shown in FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternative platform embodiment to that shown in FIGS. 1-8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the platform shown in FIG. 9 taken along line X-X;

FIG. 1 l is a plan view of yet another alternative platform embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the platform shown in FIG. 1] taken along line XIIXII;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the base portion of the alternative seat embodiment shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of an alternative seat embodiment to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 7; and

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a plurality of seats and platforms arranged in tandem according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a seat 10 mounted on a pair of platforms l2 and 14. Seat 10 includes a body receiving portion 16, a body 18 1 having upstanding sides 19 and base 20. The platforms 12 and 14 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are shown having a central portion 38 and two opposing end portions 40 and 42. In the preferred embodiment, the platforms are identical in every respect to each other and therefore for purposes of this disclosure, the elements of the platform will be referred to interchangeably with respect to each other.

Ends 40 and 42 are comprised of a female fitting 44 and male fitting 46 respectively which cooperate with their opposites of an adjacent platform to interconnect the two platforms in tandem. Female fitting 44 (shown in FIG. 3) is characterized as having a cylindrical opening 50 for receipt of a plug 52 on male portion 46. With the plug inserted in opening 50, lateral movement between platforms 12 and 14 is prevented, i.e., unless the male portion is lifted from the female portion, the two platforms cannot be disconnected from each other. However, rotational movement relative to each other is permitted through angles A and B. In essence,

platforms 12 and 14 can be rotated with respect to each other a total number of degrees equal to the sum of angles A and B". That is, the platforms are rotatable through an angle wherein angle A equals to a position wherein angle B equals 0. The total angular rotation permitted is a function of the distance between sides 56 and 58 of end portions 40 and 42. End portions 40 and 42 are essentially pie or wedge shaped and defined by a wedge angle C between sides 56 and 58, the sum of angles A, B and C equaling 360. Although not intended as a limitation, it has been found that a wedge angle of 90 permits satisfactory flexibility and yet prevents the platforms from being rotated into too close a proximity to each other. It will be appreciated however that the wedge angle can be varied to meet particular needs.

Each end 40, 42 is also comprised of a groove or channel 34. Channel 34 is preferably circular with a radius defined from the center of opening 50 and plug 52 which defines rotational axis 60. Thus, when two adjacent platforms 12 and 14 are interconnected by end fittings 44 and 46, groove 34 defines a segment of a circle, the significance of which will be described hereinafter with relation to seat 10.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, body 18 is shown having generally cylindrical upstanding sides 19 terminating in a base 20. A lip 30 is formed at the juncture of sides 19 and base 20, lip 30 projecting inward from the side to form a circumferential recess 31. The inner portion of lip 30 terminates into a depending flange or tongue 32 projecting downwards from the lip. Preferably, a continuous flange 32 is formed by providing an upwardly extending pocket 33 spaced from recess 31. This forms a circular flange preferably continuous and having a diameter and width corresponding to that of groove 34 to permit insertion of flange 32 into channel 34.

When two platforms are interconnected as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the interconnected ends present two segmented channel portions 34a and 34b as shown in FIG. 2 in which the flange 32 is inserted into. The insertion of the seat over the end portions completely shields the channel and fittings presenting a clean appearing fixture as shown in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that the two ends of a particular arrangement or organization will terminate in only one channel segment portion of which the end seats will be placed over. Thus, the cooperation of flange 32 and channel 34 is a tongue and groove relationship permitting seat to be oriented in any arbitrary fashion with relation to platforms 12 and 14.

As a result of the foregoing, two flexible modes are provided by this invention for organizing and arranging a plurality of seats. The first is provided by the platforms themselves which, when arranged, fix the particular physical relationship between adjacent seats. That is, when a plurality of platforms are so arranged, and a plurality of seats are inserted thereon, the spacing of the seats is determined. However, a second mode of flexibility is provided by the rotational movement provided by the tongue and groove relationship. That is, although the platforms determine the physical spacing of the seats, rotation of the seat within the groove permits arbitrary organization of the relative seating posture with respect to each other. That is, the circular tongue and groove permits infinite rotational variation of the seats with respect to each other.

In many instances, it may be desirable to lock the particular seating organization to prevent unintentional rearrangement by the user. One alternative is shown in FIGS. 15 wherein a plurality of leg pins 24 are mounted to the bottom portion of the seat. In this particular arrangement, pins 24 provide the support for the seat and are mounted to the central bottom portion 22 by any conventional means such as a plate 23 secured or bonded to bottom portion 22. Plate 23 includes a plurality of threaded taps 26 for receipt of legs 24 which are threaded at one end to engage tap 26. An alternative to the plate shown would be an annular ring. Bottom portion 22 is slightly recessed upwards in order to strengthen the seat by relieving the stress concentration in the center and moving it directly towards the legs.

In order to permit flexible adjustment of the seat relative to the platforms, a plurality of arcuately spaced openings 36 are provided in the end portions of the platforms, the arcuate spacing conforming preferably to the circular configuration of the groove. The legs 24 extend downward sufficiently past flange 32 so that when the seat is placed over the platforms with the legs inserted through openings 36, the legs are of sufficient length to pass through the platforms and support the chair. In this arrangement the weight of the chair does not rest on the platforms.

The provision of legs 24 obviates the necessity of ancillary support for seat 10 in the cases where angles A and B are significantly large or in the alternative when the seat is positioned over the particular end segment of the interconnected platform arrangement. That is, were the flange to provide the support for the seat the seat would tend to be unstable or wobbly since a portion of the flange would be unsupported and spaced from the floor an amount equal to the wall thickness of the bottom of the grooves 34. Thus, the legs 24 provide support for the seat independently of the platforms.

It will be appreciated that the number of openings is arbitrary, although they do reduce to a finite number the angular positions the seat may have with respect to the platforms. One way of increasing the number of positions available is to replace the plurality of openings with an arcuate slot (not shown) permitting an increased number of available positions. It will also be appreciated that the use of the legs inserted in openings 34 completely interlocks the seats and platforms together thereby preventing unintentional lateral displacement. That is, at that point neither the platforms nor seats are movable with respect to each other unless the seat is lifted up out of the entire platform structure. It is anticipated that the weight of the seat will discourage the average user from interfering with the particular arrangement provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternative embodiment is shown wherein the seat 10 is supported in part by the platform. In this embodiment, flange 32 rests in groove 34 with the platform groove providing the main support. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that when a seat 10 is inserted over two joined ends of two adjacent platforms, the groove segments 34a and 34b do not form a complete circle of support since the area exposed between sides 56, 56 and 58, 58 as defined by angles A and B will permit or cause a certain amount of instability in the seat when the legs 24 are not employed. To eliminate this, two projecting legs 27, 29 are provided and project from flange 32 at the front and back point of the seat. The length of the legsis designed to compensate for the wall thickness 35 of the bottom of the groove so that when the seat is positioned over two interconnected ends of adjacent platforms, the legs 27, 29 eliminate any instability in the seat. Preferably, legs 27 and 29 are integral with flange 32. It will be appreciated that the use of this alternative likewise decreases the number of positions in which the seat can be oriented with respect to the platform since the projecting legs 27land 29 are not positionable in the platform grooves.

The foregoing is to illustrate the availability of various means for supporting the seat or interlocking the seat with respect to the platforms. It would be equally feasible to provide the groove and/or apertures in the base portion of the seat with the tongue and/or pins projecting from the platforms. These alternatives are simply obvious mechanical expedients, and, hence, not

described in detail.

Turning to the configuration of seat 10, any seat and body configuration is feasible so long as the base portion includes the configurations described hereinbefore. FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment showing a seat 10 similar to that shown in FIG. 1 in cooperative association with a luggage rack 70. Luggage rack 70 is characterized by a body portion 72 having a luggage supportplatform 74, body portion 72 being supported by the central portion 38 of platforms 12 or 14. The body portion 18 of the seat shown has cylindrically shaped upstanding sides 19 which cooperate with the luggage rack 70. The luggage rack includes two ends 78 and 80 characterized by concave sides 82, 83 having a concave shapematching the cylindrical shape of body 18 of the seat. When the luggage rack is positioned between two adjacent seats, concave sides 82 and 83nestle around sides 19 of the respective seats preventing lateral movement of the rack although circumferential movement of the seat or rack relative to the center of the seat is permitted. The physical nesting or interlocking of the rack negates the need of any fastener means between the rack and platform upon which it rests. The side configuration of both the platforms and the luggage rack is shown to be opposite in that the sides 88 and 90 of the luggage rack are shown to be convex while the sides 92, 94 of the central portion of the platform are shown to be concave.

As described, the convex curvature of luggage rack 70 will largely conceal the portion of the platform upon which it rests from the view of the user. It will be appreciated that either shape is feasible although it is preferred that the platform not protrude out beyond the luggage rack.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10 and 13, a preferred alternative form of this invention is shown. FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternative platform configuration 110 having a pair of opposed ends 112 and 114. Platform 110 is symmetrical about both its longitudinal and transverse axes. Therefore, for the purpose of description, like reference numerals relate to like parts on each end.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the base portion of an alternative seat construction 117. The variation of the seat construction shown in FIG. 13 over that shown in FIG. 5 permits the seat to cooperate with the platform 1l0 shown in FIG. 9. To the extent the constructionof theseats illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 13 are identical, like numerals designate like parts in both views.

Both platform ends 112 and 114 include a generally upstanding arcuately shaped face 116 which generally corresponds to the curvature of the leg flange 32 of the seat shown in FIG. 13, permitting the face 116 to nestle closely with the flange 32 while permitting circumferential repositioning of the platform with respect to the seat center. Although a flush abutment is preferred, normally there will occur slight variations in the curvature of face 116 and flange 32 so that a close interfit of the seat and platform may not result. To prevent this from occurring while at the same time providing stable contact between the platform and seat, a pair of terminal bosses 120 are provided, one at each end of arcuate face 116. The terminal bosses form enlarged projections providing positive two point contact between the platform and the seat. Since the two points are widely spaced, a stable seat-platform relationship is established.

In order to lock a platform 110 to a seat 117 positioned on either end thereof, a generally upstanding pin is preferably mounted on each end of the platform. It may be located on the longitudinal center line of the platform, but this is not essential. Pin 130 is adapted for receipt in one of a plurality of sockets 132 (FIG. 13) which are circumferentially spaced (FIG. 14) along lip 30 and projects upwards into the base portion of the seat. Preferably, the longitudinal cross section of both the pins 130 and sockets 132 are wedge shaped to facilitateintroduction of the pins into the sockets. Preferably, this taper is such that a snug fit is achieved when the seat and platform are fully locked together.

The seat configuration illustrated in FIG. 14 shows 24 sockets 132 circumferentially spaced along lip 30. This provides circumferential adjustment of platform 110 relative to the center of seat 117 at increments of 15. It will be appreciated that this is strictly an arbitrary selection although it has been found to provide sufficient flexibility in almost every type of seat arrangement. However, any number, practically speaking, could be used.

One important advantage of the embodiment described above is that it permits the entire support of seat 117 to rest directly on depending flange 32. This eliminates the necessity of any bearing stress being applied to the pin-socket interlock means. Also, the sockets 132 are visually concealed from the exterior of seat 117 so that it can be used in and of itself as a seat without the platform. On the other hand, when a plurality of seats and platforms are so interconnected, the entire arrangement is locked together, eliminating unintentional rearrangement. It will likewise be appreciated that an obvious modification of platform 110 is to provide an upwardly projecting portion from face 116 forming a tongue-groove fit with the inner recess of lip 32. Thus with the elimination of pins 130 on the platform, the platform can still be interlocked with the seat 10 to prevent lateral relative movement therebetween but permit circumferential adjustment. This could be desirable if a single seat-platform arrangement were used with the platform perhaps comprising a side table or other article supporting unit.

This brings us to another aspect of this invention. It will be appreciated that in many instances, such as in airports, especially in passenger waiting areas, it is desirable to provide luggage storage facilities or at least luggage racks in the immediate vicinity of the seating permitting a passenger to place his luggage nearby without having to check it. On the other hand, it is undesirable to have the luggage simply placed next to a persons seat in the aisle or walking area where it interferes with the flow of traffic. The platform herein disclosed provides a complete solution to this problem without detracting from the eye appealing arrangement provided by this invention.

One particular arrangement of these platforms is illustrated in FIG. where the platforms are designated by the numeral 140. These platforms can be of the type illustrated in FIG. 6 or FIGS. 9 and 10. Other platform structures can be used so long as they are structurally designed to cooperate with the seats, as has been previously described.

Platform 110 is preferably formed of any moldable material but if rotor cast, the material choice will be limited to materials suitable for that process. If roto casting is employed, two platforms may be cast as an integral hollow shell. The two platforms are later separated by conventional cutting methods.

OPERATION FIG. 15 shows one arrangement of a plurality of seats 117 arranged by a plurality of organizing platforms 110. The ease of arrangement and rearrangement is illustrated by the following method. The arrangement shown in FIG. 15 comprises four platforms 110 which are arranged so that the longitudinal axis of each platform is perpendicular to that of an adjacent platform. Five seats 117 are positioned with their respective openings 16 of each seat facing opposite that of an adjacent seat. In this fashion, two oppositely facing rows of seats 117 are created in one unit with a convenient luggage rack intermediate each adjacent seat. After the platforms are generally arranged in the desired fashion, each individual seat is lifted over the particular platform end so that the outer face of flange 32 comes into contact with bosses 120 and the particular desired recess 132 is fitted over pin 130. Those seats positioned intermediate the endmost seats of a particular arrangement will be positioned over the respective adjacent ends of each adjacent platform. Therefore, two interlocking pins 130 (one from each adjacent platform) will be engaged in recesses 132 so that two adjacent platforms are interlocked in tandem fashion. The equidistant spacing of recesses 132 permits an arbitrary symmetry throughout the entire arrangement so that it is uniform in appearance.

The location of pins 130 is such that along with its wedge-shaped configuration corresponding to that of recess 132, when the lip 30 of seat 117 is positioned over the end with a pin interlocking with a recess, the wedge effect provided by the wedge-shape crosssection of the recess and pin pulls the seat slightly inward with respect to the platform end so that firm engagement is provided between the outer face of flange 32 and the bosses 120. This provides a stable and facile interlock. The interlock achieved substantially prevents unintentional rearrangement or displacement of the particular arrangement by the user. The overall weight of the seats, though by no means excessive, will generally discourage tampering by the user. As for intentional rearrangement, it is only necessary to lift the seats off the respective platforms, rearrange them in any configuration desired, and subsequently reposition the seats over the platforms until they are interlocked therewith. This type of arrangement provided by this invention eliminates the use of all types of fasteners thus eliminating substantial time and labor in rearranging facilities.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12 in detail, an alternative platform 160 is shown which is identical in all respects to pladorm shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 except that the luggage rack has been eliminated. Thus, like figures designate like parts with respect to the description concerning platform 110. Each platform is comprised of a pair of ends 112 and 114 which are joined together as the result of the elimination of the mid portion 141 provided in the platforms previously described. An arcuately shaped and generally upstanding face 116 faces outward from each end for engagement with flange 32 of a seat 1 17 and the extremities of each face 1 16 are provided with bosses 120 which function exactly as previously described. Interlocking pins 146 are positioned inwardly along the longitudinal axis adjacent mid portion 122. Platform 160 has particular utility in those types of arrangements where closer spacing of the seating is desired and the necessity of an article receiving platform or luggage rack does not exist. This is particularly the case in such facilities as theater lobbies and similar public seating establishments. However, it will be appreciated that even in those facilities requiring article receiving platforms, a combination of platforms 110 and 160 can greatly increase the utilization of a particular floor area. The use of both types materially increases the flexibility of the system. Platform 160 is likewise preferably rotor cast as a single hollow shell, which when out along its mid section forms two platforms.

Although the principle uses envisioned herein call for a seat to be positioned on each end of a platform, many alternative uses might call for one seat and platform, the latter of which might be a side table, etc., as mentioned previously.

Although several embodiments have been shown and described in detail, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in this art that the details of construction of the particular embodiments may be modified in a great many ways without departing from the unique concepts presented. It is, therefore, intended that the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims rather than by particular details of construction shown, except as specifically stated in the claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. Means for organizing seats with respect to each other comprising: a pair of seats; a platform having a pair of ends and engageable at each end with said seats, said seats and platform ends comprising cooperative means shaped to permit circumferential movement of said platform with respect to the center of each of said seats said cooperative means including an arcuately shaped, generally upstanding face on each end of said platform, each of said seats including a generally downwardly depending flange having an arcuate face to nestle with said platform face to permit relative circumferential movement therebetween; interlocking means for detachably securing said seats and platform together in a fixed angular relationship, said interlocking means being a pin secured to each end of said platform, and said seats including a plurality of sockets for receipt of said pins, said pin being positioned inwardly from said platform arcuate face and said seats including a circumferential recess around the bottom portion of said seats, and said sockets are positioned outwardly and above said seat flange to permit said seat to nestle over said platform ends when said seats and platform are interlocked.

2. The means for organizing seats described in claim 1 wherein the ends of each arcuate face terminate in a swell which projects inwardly so that positive abutment between said flange and face is provided at two positions along said face; and said pin is positioned adjacent the mid portion of each face to provide a positive interlock along said face.

3. The means for organizing seats described in claim 2 wherein said recesses and pins are wedge shaped in cross section to permit facile insertion of said pins into said recesses while at the same time providing a snug wedging interlock between said pins and selected sockets.

4. Means for organizing seats with respect to each other comprising, in combination: a pair of seats, each of said seats having a generally downwardly depending flange, the outer face of said flange forming an arcuate face, said seats including a circumferential recess around the bottom portion of said seats whereby said flange is recessed radially inwardly with regards to the center of said seats, a platform having spaced index means for positioning said seats, said index means having an arcuately shaped generally upstanding face corresponding to said seat face whereby said seat face is nestable with one of said platform faces to permit relative circumferential movement therebetween, and interlock means for detachably securing said seats and platform together in a fixed angular relationship, said interlock means comprising a pin projecting from said seat and means defining one or more sockets on said platform for receipt of said pin, said plurality of sockets being positioned outwardly and above said seat flange, said pin being positioned inwardly from said platform arcuate face to permit said seat to nestle over one of said index means on said platform when said seats and platform are interlocked.

5. The means for organizing seats as described in claim 4 wherein the ends of each arcuate face of said platform index means terminates in a swell which projects inwardly relative the center of curvature of said arcuate face so that positive abutment between said flange and platform face is provided at two positions along said face.

6. A means for organizing seats as described in claim 5 wherein said pin is positioned adjacent the midportion of each of said arcuate faces of said platform index means to provide a positive interlock along said face.

7. A means for organizing seats as described in claim 6 wherein said platform includes a pair of ends, said index means being positioned at said ends. 

1. Means for organizing seats with respect to each other comprising: a pair of seats; a platform having a pair of ends and engageable at each end with said seats, said seats and platform ends comprising cooperative means shaped to permit circumferential movement of said platform with respect to the center of each of said seats said cooperative means including an arcuately shaped, generally upstanding face on each end of said platform, each of said seats including a generally downwardly depending flange having an arcuate face to nestle with said platform face to permit relative circumferential movement therebetween; interlocking means for detachably securing said seats and platform together in a fixed angular relationship, said interlocking means being a pin secured to each end of said platform, and said seats including a plurality of sockets for receipt of said pins, said pin being positioned inwardly from said platform arcuate face and said seats including a circumferential recess around the bottom portion of said seats, and said sockets are positioned outwardly and above said seat flange to permit said seat to nestle over said platform ends when said seats and platform are interlocked.
 2. The means for organizing seats described in claim 1 wherein the ends of each arcuate face terminate in a swell which projects inwardly so that positive abutment between said flange and face is provided at two positions along said face; and said pin is positioned adjacent the mid portion of each face to provide a positive interlock along said face.
 3. The means for organizing seats described in claim 2 wherein said recesses and pins are wedge shaped in cross section to permit facile insertion of said pins into said recesses while at the same time providing a snug wedging interlock between said pins and selected sockets.
 4. Means for organizing seats with respect to each other comprising, in combination: a pair of seats, each of said seats having a generally downwardly depending flange, the outer face of said flange forming an arcuate face, said seats including a circumferential recess around the bottom portion of said seats whereby said flange is recessed radially inwardly with regards to the center of said seats, a platform having spaced index means for positioning said seats, said index means having an arcuately shaped generally upstanding face corresponding to said seat face whereby said seat face is nestable with one of said platform faces to permit relative circumferential movement therebetween, and interlock means for detachably securing said seats and platform together in a fixed angular relationship, said interlock means comprising a pin projecting from said seat and means defining one or more sockets on said platform for receipt of said pin, said plurality of sockets being positioned outwardly and above said seat flange, said pin being positioned inwardly from said platform arcuate face to permit said seat to nestle over one of said index means on said platform when said seats and platform are interlocked.
 5. The means for organizing seats as described in claim 4 wherein the ends of each arcuate face of said platform index means terminates in a swell which projects inwardly relative the center of curvature of said arcuate face so that positive abutment between said flange and platform face is provided at two positions along said face.
 6. A means for organizing seats as described in claim 5 wherein said pin is positioned adjacent the midportion of each of said arcuate faces of said platform index means to provide a positive interlock along said face.
 7. A means for organizing seats as described in claim 6 wherein said platform includes a pair of ends, said index means being positioned At said ends. 